Does Candy Really Affect Your Little Hero’s Teeth?

We have to admit, saying no to a candy bar can be a very difficult thing to do, especially for a Little Hero. We’ve all experienced those childhood days after Halloween when our diet seemed to consist of candies and nothing more, or the birthday parties with a seemingly-endless supply of sweets. The truth is, while delicious, candies can have a negative effect on your Little Hero’s teeth. But how does candy really hurt the mouth, and more importantly, how can we prevent the damage?

Exposure Time Matters

Mom had a point when she said eating too much candy would rot your teeth, but things are a little more complicated than that. Your Little Hero’s mouth contains streptococcus, a naturally-occurring bacteria that loves to eat sugar. After the bacteria breaks down the sugar, it produces acids that can eat away at your child’s teeth. Drinking water can be helpful in clearing these acids from the visible part of the teeth, but your child might run into problems when the sugars become wedged in the crevices that are hard to reach.

The longer the sweets are stuck in the teeth, the longer bacteria has to break them down and produce harmful acids. In the end it’s not the amount of sugar consumed that will have a negative effect on your child’s teeth but the amount of time sweets can linger in the mouth.

Preventing Damage

The Sidekicks at Little Heroes know just how to keep your little one’s teeth healthy and strong. Try to keep your Little Hero from eating caramel or other soft candies that can easily stick onto their teeth and remain there for extended periods of time. The fight against Sugarbugs can be successful if your Little Heroes make a habit out of brushing their teeth or washing their mouth with water immediately after indulging in sweets. Always remember it’s important to have your children wash their teeth at least three times per day and floss at least one time.

A good option to help fight off the evil Sugarbugs is to find alternatives for sweets. Some candies are now made with sugar-free ingredients that don’t need to be broken down and turned into acid by bacteria.

Become a Little Hero

It’s time to equip your Little Hero with the power of oral hygiene in a fun and engaging way. Our Sidekicks have the super tools and power chambers your little one needs to fend off all the impurities that can be detrimental to their teeth. If you have any questions about our dental services, contact Little Heroes Pediatric Dentistry today.